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Ayron Jones to Open for B.B. King Plus More Spring Music Events

Ayron Jones is shaking up the Seattle music scene

By Seattle Mag February 14, 2014

0314music2

This article originally appeared in the March 2014 issue of Seattle magazine.

!–paging_filter–pLike the very best rock ’n’ rollers, Seattle musician Ayron Jones seems just slightly unhinged when he performs live—as if at any moment the music might carry him to a place even he didn’t know he was heading. With a voice that swerves between soulful runs and growly shouts, and an ability to seriously wail on the guitar, the 27-year-old has been blowing away local audiences of late, especially since the October release of his debut album, emDream/em. Produced by beloved Seattle royal, Sir Mix-A-Lot, the record showcases a style Jones calls urban rock, which he plays with his band The Way. “This music comes from the inner city, but it’s the rock version,” says Jones, who grew up and still lives in the Central District. “People think hip-hop and rap when they think inner city, but soul and rock come from the inner city too—mine is a 2014 version of inner city music. It’s a mix of blues and grunge.” His powerful new take on old styles will receive a wide audience this month, when Jones opens for blues legend B.B. King at The Moore Theatre. “It’s a huge honor,” he says. “B.B. King has inspired everybody who plays guitar. I’m a little nervous, but being nervous is good because it means you care.” 3/3. 7:30 p.m. Prices vary. The Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave.; 206.682.1414; a href=”http://www.stgpresents.org” target=”_blank”stgpresents.org/abrbr/p
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pstrongFUNK/SOUL/strongbrSharon Jones and the Dap-Kings deliver ’60s-style grooves that demand vigorous dancing. 4/2–4/3. 8 p.m. $29.50. The Showbox (downtown); a href=”http://www.showboxonline.com” target=”_blank”showboxonline.com/abrbrstrongOPERA/strongbrA poet tells his drinking buddies about his tragic love with a robot-doll, a soprano and a courtesan in The Tales of Hoffman at Seattle Opera. Spoiler alert: This time, it’s poetry that conquers all. 5/3–5/17. Times and prices vary. McCaw Hall, (Seattle Center); a href=”http://www.seattleopera.org” target=”_blank”seattleopera.org/abrstrongbrPOST-PUNK ROCK /strongbrLA-based Dum Dum Girls take a turn toward the gothic with the latest album, Too True. 4/5. 8 p.m. $15.Neumos (Capitol Hill); a href=”http://www.neumos.com” target=”_blank”neumos.com/abr brstrongPROGRESSIVE BLUEGRASS/strongbrThe strummers of Yonder Mountain String Band bring a rock-flavored edge to their impressive picking. 4/10. 8 p.m. $25. The Showbox (downtown); a href=”http://www.showboxonline.com” target=”_blank”showboxonline.com/abr brstrongAFRICAN GOSPEL/strongbrSoweto Gospel Choir promises a powerful performance in the wake of Nelson Mandela’s death. 4/12. Times and prices vary. Meany Hall (UW campus); a href=”http://www.meany.org” target=”_blank”meany.org/abrbrstrongASIAN UNDERGROUND/strongbrBlending Indian folk songs with ambient electronica, pioneer Karsh Kale makes it seem like they should’ve been together all along. 4/13. 7 p.m. $37. Kirkland Performance Center (Kirkland); a href=”http://www.kpcenter.org” target=”_blank”kpcenter.org/abrbrstrongJAZZ/strongbrOne of the genre’s most formidable players, Branford Marsalis titled his last album Four MFs Playin’ Tunes. 5/10–5/11. Times and prices vary. Benaroya Hall (downtown); a href=”http://www.seattlesymphony.org/benaroya” target=”_blank”seattlesymphony.org/benaroya/abrbrstrongORCHESTRAL ROCK/strongbrSeattle Rock Orchestra bestows its gift for artful new arrangements on The White Album, by the Beatles. 5/10–5/11. Times vary. $15–$22.50. The Moore Theatre (Belltown); a href=”http://www.stgpresents.org” target=”_blank”stgpresents.org/abrbrstrongCONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL/strongbrSeattle Symphony continues it’s excellent series of avant-garde classical concerts in the Benaroya lobby. This time maestro Ludovic Morlot conducts a mixed bill titled Professor Bad Trip. 5/16. 10 p.m. $20. Benaroya Hall (downtown); a href=”http://www.seattlesymphony.org/benaroya” target=”_blank”seattlesymphony.org/a/p
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